After having been in colorado for three years and having 150+ days of skiing here all over the state, I can confirm the best time to ski here (on vacay) is definitely mid March to mid April. I've had the best runs of my life snow wise in mid/late March with far smaller amounts of crowds. If you get a banger late season storm awesome, but if you get to ski the entire mountain on a calm sunny day, also awesome. A lot of the dreaded wind starts to die down generally around this time too, especially at places like Breckenridge and Winter Park. The winding down of resort season also coincidentally lines up with when I think the backcountry season is also the best! Less avalanche danger, everything filled in, and great weather for skiing bigger objectives if you're into that sort of thing.
Fully endorse the third week of March. It’s Colorado’s snowiest month and we’ve had our best powder days with no crowds. Just enough people on the hill to keep the restaurants open. For anything later, the answer is Mammoth. Spring in the Eastern Sierra is something every skier needs to experience. Long warm days and perfect corn.
If you are heading to Aspen, Vail or Telluride, another very good option is flying into Grand Junction. Usually never has weather delays and connects to Denver, Dallas, Salt Lake City, LAX, Phoenix, etc. A VERY good option.
I now fly in on Sunday afternoons. The traffic is coming off the mountains and first of the week has the fewest lines. Come back in Friday mornings when traffic is going up the mountains. I go in Feb now so even in dry winters there is a good base layer and most everything is open.
I skied Breckenridge on a Monday and Tuesday at the end of February last winter and I never waited longer than 5 minutes at a lift. I even got a surprise powder day on that Tuesday with a foot of fresh. Lifts were basically empty from 8:30-9:30 am since it is a bigger party town.
One thing I would like to add for the actual planning. Get a group together; traveling as a family unit is fun....but fun-ner with a group. Contact the resort and get assigned a concierge that can put together a package deal. The extra cost (not much imo) is well worth the savings in time.... plus you can get perks that aren't easily found. $0.02
Here’s a tip for telluride (where it is IN$$ANELY expensive to stay). The gorgeous town of Ouray is about a 45 min drive from the lifts and offers much cheaper lodging, several good restaurants and fun shops. Also, telluride is overlooked for beginners but the sunshine express has some of the best beginner runs in the country.
Sometimes you can score really good deals on lodging in the early season. Mid-November until 1st week in December seems be the best time for great rates plus max available runs at ski resorts. For example, I’m staying at the Beaver Run resort for $142/night (plus resort fee and parking). Still under $200/night is pretty good for ski in/out. Keystone has good rates early season too and they open a week or so earlier. Keystone’s man-made snow is decent.
In my opinion, Crusted Butte has the best groomers in CO. Vail is a close second. If Crusted could get the grooming crew from DV, that would be groomed terrain heaven. Fortunately, I have plenty of money to spend to lodging, but I always stay at the hostel at the base of JH and the Bevi near Telluride. I like the social atmosphere, and the Bevi is pretty nice for a hostel. I think there is a Bevi in Breckenridge, but I have never stayed there. Due to info from Piste Pickers, I am going to try to make it to Sun Valley to ski Limelight this season.
I did closing day at A Basin last season. Talked to people that had flown in from Austria (!!!), Jersey, Philly, and Illinois. Slope was crowded AF. Won't be doing that again.
Telluride is great as long as you’re okay fighting a 10yo for expert lines off 14 or waiting for the rope drop on black iron bowl and running at 12k ft to get a good line on dihedral
i am thinking of staying in cheap airbnb downtown denver and skiing winterpark on thursday and friday via the train and copper/abasin on snowstang on weekend. i think this would be the cheapest way to do it while avoiding driving I70 and parking hassle.
Favorite skiing channel. Bar none. So, I booked Thurs-Mon feb 6-10 at keystone. How boned are we for crowds lol? I’m a dirty east coaster so I’m not super familiar. I just couldn’t stomach the lack of night skiing at other CO resorts.
Thursday, Friday, Monday, and even Sunday afternoon should be fine. Saturday, you're probably going to find some solid lines on the front side, so I would recommend sticking to Santiago, Outback, and maybe Bergman on that day.
I’m planning a trip to Vail/BC end of February. Skiing 11 days or so from Friday to Monday of the week after. How should I split my days between Vail and Beaver Creek? Staying in Minturn. I was thinking Saturdays at BC at the minimum but wondering if that should includes Sundays too?
I'm a British skier, and am thinking of going to Beaver Creek in the 2027 season, what would be the best month for me to go, for good snow, an especially small crowds, as given the sheer expense of the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort & Spa for a 10 day stay - stranded time British skiers spend in the US - I don't to spend that kind of money, and go all that way just to stand in a long line?
@@SRGSkiing Right, thanks for the heads up. I'll check with 'Crystal Ski' website from the first to the seventh of March to give me an idea as to the cost. Hopefully it won't be silly money.
@@SRGSkiing Just FYI the cost is steep for early March it is £12,476 topping out on the 11th with £12,713, and prices don't dip below the £10k mark till 23rd with £9,780, and it naturally continues to drop as March comes to an end and the season winds down, so I either pay a premium for good snow, or wait till the season is coming to an end for melting snow and pay cheaper. Just as well what ever I choose it'll be a one and done.
Going to Colorado for 1st time. Utah 10 hrs from LA. Idaho springs 16+ so I always pick Utah, but give idaho springs jan29th to feb9th. Ikon pass Copper and Arapahoe think I will pass on Winter Park I board and moguls are a hard pass😂
I'm not sure I agree. You can justify an entire season at some of these locations, much less a 1-2 week trip. No need to bounce around to different spots.
Don't recommend driving to Frisco at night. Car rental is shockingly expensive in winter for a beat up Hyundai with bald tires. Be ready to forfeit your deposit, as it is likely your bowels and stomach will evacuate during part of any I-70 traverse in winter. That's if you don't get run over by trucks screaming down the grade in an ice storm. Driving your own capable vehicle to CO is great, but flying in and renting a car is a crap shoot. Be a good tourist and learn the trains and shuttles for airline destination ski trips
From outside of Colorado, I have to say that the Bustang ski services, expanded Winter Park train service, and generally better ski town public transport (at least compared to other parts of the US) is very appealing
The Basics.....don't go!!! Go to Utah, CA or anywhere else. Way too crowded, expensive, littered with assholes and lots of other great areas to go to instead......aka....ID, MT, BC, Alberta, Europe, etc...
Sorry if the narration sounds a bit off - was recovering from a cold when this was recorded.
After having been in colorado for three years and having 150+ days of skiing here all over the state, I can confirm the best time to ski here (on vacay) is definitely mid March to mid April. I've had the best runs of my life snow wise in mid/late March with far smaller amounts of crowds. If you get a banger late season storm awesome, but if you get to ski the entire mountain on a calm sunny day, also awesome. A lot of the dreaded wind starts to die down generally around this time too, especially at places like Breckenridge and Winter Park.
The winding down of resort season also coincidentally lines up with when I think the backcountry season is also the best! Less avalanche danger, everything filled in, and great weather for skiing bigger objectives if you're into that sort of thing.
SRG skiing upload? Guess it's the best day of the week now!
Fully endorse the third week of March. It’s Colorado’s snowiest month and we’ve had our best powder days with no crowds. Just enough people on the hill to keep the restaurants open.
For anything later, the answer is Mammoth. Spring in the Eastern Sierra is something every skier needs to experience. Long warm days and perfect corn.
Concur re mammoth. Phenomenal spring skiing. Palisades as well
If you are heading to Aspen, Vail or Telluride, another very good option is flying into Grand Junction. Usually never has weather delays and connects to Denver, Dallas, Salt Lake City, LAX, Phoenix, etc. A VERY good option.
Orange County had a direct to GJT flight for a bit. So nice!
I now fly in on Sunday afternoons. The traffic is coming off the mountains and first of the week has the fewest lines. Come back in Friday mornings when traffic is going up the mountains. I go in Feb now so even in dry winters there is a good base layer and most everything is open.
I skied Breckenridge on a Monday and Tuesday at the end of February last winter and I never waited longer than 5 minutes at a lift. I even got a surprise powder day on that Tuesday with a foot of fresh. Lifts were basically empty from 8:30-9:30 am since it is a bigger party town.
Midweek>anything else
My goal is always 10 midweek powder per year. dream conditions every time.
Les GOOOOO, another SRG VIDEO!!!!
One thing I would like to add for the actual planning. Get a group together; traveling as a family unit is fun....but fun-ner with a group. Contact the resort and get assigned a concierge that can put together a package deal. The extra cost (not much imo) is well worth the savings in time.... plus you can get perks that aren't easily found. $0.02
Heading to Winter Park with the boys Jan. 6, second time visiting!
Here’s a tip for telluride (where it is IN$$ANELY expensive to stay). The gorgeous town of Ouray is about a 45 min drive from the lifts and offers much cheaper lodging, several good restaurants and fun shops. Also, telluride is overlooked for beginners but the sunshine express has some of the best beginner runs in the country.
Sometimes you can score really good deals on lodging in the early season. Mid-November until 1st week in December seems be the best time for great rates plus max available runs at ski resorts. For example, I’m staying at the Beaver Run resort for $142/night (plus resort fee and parking). Still under $200/night is pretty good for ski in/out. Keystone has good rates early season too and they open a week or so earlier. Keystone’s man-made snow is decent.
In my opinion, Crusted Butte has the best groomers in CO. Vail is a close second. If Crusted could get the grooming crew from DV, that would be groomed terrain heaven. Fortunately, I have plenty of money to spend to lodging, but I always stay at the hostel at the base of JH and the Bevi near Telluride. I like the social atmosphere, and the Bevi is pretty nice for a hostel. I think there is a Bevi in Breckenridge, but I have never stayed there. Due to info from Piste Pickers, I am going to try to make it to Sun Valley to ski Limelight this season.
I did closing day at A Basin last season. Talked to people that had flown in from Austria (!!!), Jersey, Philly, and Illinois. Slope was crowded AF. Won't be doing that again.
Telluride is great as long as you’re okay fighting a 10yo for expert lines off 14 or waiting for the rope drop on black iron bowl and running at 12k ft to get a good line on dihedral
Amazing Video!!
Brother you’re blowing up the spot!!! March-April sucks in Colorado don’t listen to this dude he has no idea what he’s talking about!!!!!!!!!
😂
KGUC in Gunnison is a good way to get to Crested Butte
i am thinking of staying in cheap airbnb downtown denver and skiing winterpark on thursday and friday via the train and copper/abasin on snowstang on weekend. i think this would be the cheapest way to do it while avoiding driving I70 and parking hassle.
Favorite skiing channel. Bar none. So, I booked Thurs-Mon feb 6-10 at keystone. How boned are we for crowds lol? I’m a dirty east coaster so I’m not super familiar. I just couldn’t stomach the lack of night skiing at other CO resorts.
Thursday, Friday, Monday, and even Sunday afternoon should be fine. Saturday, you're probably going to find some solid lines on the front side, so I would recommend sticking to Santiago, Outback, and maybe Bergman on that day.
I’m planning a trip to Vail/BC end of February. Skiing 11 days or so from Friday to Monday of the week after. How should I split my days between Vail and Beaver Creek? Staying in Minturn. I was thinking Saturdays at BC at the minimum but wondering if that should includes Sundays too?
Saturdays and Sundays at BC would be how I would split it
Mystery run is Shadows at Steamboat?
Not every year, but December on the (high desert) Colorado slopes .... 🤪😁
How come you didn't include Copper for any of the resort choices? Does it just not make the top three for any category, or is it not that great?
Just didn't make the top 3. Very solid all-around resort, but not top in anything
Agreed with all except that Monarch gets weekend crowds as bad as anywhere.
Not sure I agree with "bad as anywhere," but I can say I've definitely noticed it getting worse in recent years
Is that shadows at steamboat? I have no idea
lol damn I didn’t know Presidents’ Day weekend is the most crowded of the year. I’ll be at Copper. Oh well!
I'm a British skier, and am thinking of going to Beaver Creek in the 2027 season, what would be the best month for me to go, for good snow, an especially small crowds, as given the sheer expense of the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort & Spa for a 10 day stay - stranded time British skiers spend in the US - I don't to spend that kind of money, and go all that way just to stand in a long line?
I would recommend early March
@@SRGSkiing Right, thanks for the heads up. I'll check with 'Crystal Ski' website from the first to the seventh of March to give me an idea as to the cost. Hopefully it won't be silly money.
@@SRGSkiing Just FYI the cost is steep for early March it is £12,476 topping out on the 11th with £12,713, and prices don't dip below the £10k mark till 23rd with £9,780, and it naturally continues to drop as March comes to an end and the season winds down, so I either pay a premium for good snow, or wait till the season is coming to an end for melting snow and pay cheaper. Just as well what ever I choose it'll be a one and done.
Going to Colorado for 1st time. Utah 10 hrs from LA. Idaho springs 16+ so I always pick Utah, but give idaho springs jan29th to feb9th. Ikon pass Copper and Arapahoe think I will pass on Winter Park I board and moguls are a hard pass😂
3rd week in march is quiet for Breckenridge and vail?
Quieter than the 12 weeks previous, yeah
Gonna go out on a limb and guess Heads Up at Beaver Creek
@@SRGSkiing Is it Forget about it?
I'm not sure I agree. You can justify an entire season at some of these locations, much less a 1-2 week trip. No need to bounce around to different spots.
Fair enough, if that works for you! We personally get bored of a mountain after a week, even if we haven't explored the entire thing.
@@SRGSkiing Agreed. I get bored. Need new terrain to explore.
Yup, I get bored of most ski resorts after a day. It’s good to have options
Don't recommend driving to Frisco at night. Car rental is shockingly expensive in winter for a beat up Hyundai with bald tires. Be ready to forfeit your deposit, as it is likely your bowels and stomach will evacuate during part of any I-70 traverse in winter. That's if you don't get run over by trucks screaming down the grade in an ice storm. Driving your own capable vehicle to CO is great, but flying in and renting a car is a crap shoot. Be a good tourist and learn the trains and shuttles for airline destination ski trips
Now HERE'S someone who gets it!
@@SRGSkiing Trial and Failure is my best coach
From outside of Colorado, I have to say that the Bustang ski services, expanded Winter Park train service, and generally better ski town public transport (at least compared to other parts of the US) is very appealing
The Basics.....don't go!!! Go to Utah, CA or anywhere else. Way too crowded, expensive, littered with assholes and lots of other great areas to go to instead......aka....ID, MT, BC, Alberta, Europe, etc...
Utah and and Cali are just as bad in our experience